Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-21
FOR CAMDEN.
Nr. Whitaker DefeS the Party
Whip and Votes HisSentiments.
| LIVELY TIMEIE JOINT ASSEMBLY.
Mr.. Lucas ResurreGs Those Charges and
Talks About Proving Them Be-
fore "A Tribunal"
rieorum % se s.ndag Reaiaer.


assembly in the election Of a United States
Senator for the past two weeks was broken
to-day and the proceedings were quite Us
lively rs could be desired.
The hall of the House was crowded to
OVERLOOKING with visitors and the atmOs.
phere became so close that Kidd, during
his speech, tainted for a moment.
The speeches lasted till three O'Clock,
when a vote WAS taken, which resulted
Camden -, Gates IS, Gov. Wilson 4, New
man /, Boyd Faulkner 8, Johnston l,
Johnson =, Quarrier /. n. f. Whitaker
voted for Camden. The interest in the
speeches was 80 great during the noon
hour in town that business men who could
not leave their stores, sent messengers to
the Capitol to learn the substance of the
speeches and ascertain it a vote was taken.
The following is
LUCAS SPEECH.
"Mr. President,-I would not feel iusti-
fled in inflicting any further remarks in
reference to the important duty OF electing
a United States Senator, had ii not been
for the attack, without any apparent occa-
sion upon the gentleman with whom CO.
operate and myself. We were treated to
an iullamatory Outburst of elOquencc Il few
days ago, from the Senator from Raleigh
McCreery What the precise motive for
that outburSt of elOquence was, | hove not
been entirely able to determine. Whether
il was to drive us from the deliberate posi-
ton VT have assumed here. or whether 1t
was intended 10 persuade us to abandon
that position, | have never been able to
determine. 1t had no weight or influence
upon those for whose benefit it was in
tended.
II propose again, Mr.. President, to put
before the Joint Assembly the name OF
Governor f. Willis Wilson and | have be-
fore me a few facts To which ! desire to call
attention to in support of the proposition
that the Governor, who represents those
| with whom | cooperate, is making suchan
administration rs | can most cordially and
heartily endorse. | find upon examination
of the records that of the 81 railroads in
this State for the first time in our history
duringthe year lSS6 every one of them had
sent in their statements and paid up their
taxes. | find that during the year lSS6,
that there does not stand upon the books a
single solitary delinquent Sheriff. | find
that the rcyenueS of the State have
increased by more than 800, 900 during
the year lsS6 over the previous year.
find that your school fund has increased
by over two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars during the two years UfthiS admin
istratiOn. | ind that for the month past
| the collections Of the treasury of the State
were larger by over ten thousand dollars
than during the preceding month, and |
find that for the present month up to date
the payments are one thousand dollars
more than the whole month of February,
lSS6. ] find that there now stands upon
the books of the Treasurer five hundred
and ~cighty-live thousand dollars TO the
credit OF the treasury of which three hun
dred thousand dollars belongs Id The gen
cral State fund. Here is Il showing of the
administration Of Il mlu who was elected
without the expenditure of Il single dollar
to buy votes. Here is the record OF a man
whom | put forward as Il reform Democrat
worthy of the name.
Now, Mr.. President, the Senator from
Raleigh says 20 us that we in our publish
ed address are bound to prove the state
ments We havemade. say to the gentle
man, give us the tribunal and we will
prove them. Where is the tribunal, con
Stituted, organized or authorized to receive
evidence upon this subject? 1t is Il chal,
lcnge which he can safely make that we
are bound to prove, when there is no tri-
bunaI to receive the evidence. What are
those charges? The gentleman in his ELI
Ingy of Mr.. Camden says that he is an hon
est man. Mr.. President, We are not here
TO attack private character. We are
here to arraign public charac-
ter and try that. Now, then,
is il honest to buy votes? Our Republic,
can friends say that votes have been
bought
Mr.. McCreery Cinterrupting the speaker,
"Do you;say so?'
Mr.. Lucas-"I say that | am here Ia
act upon the best evidence which | can
yet to apply TO my conscience aud they
govern M conduct. Is il honest to buy
the press? Erect your tribunal and take
evidence. Call the roll of your Federal
office holders and examine the registers OF
the hotels and see whether they have not
almost to Il man been here assisting Cam
den. | care not to p~articularize. An
other charge was that lobbyists were
brought here to influence members
of the Legislature. If the Senator
from Raleigh wants to investigate how
many came here on free passes
and how many hotel bills have been paid
for. then produce that lost receipt for $40.
Those are the evidences which have salts
fed our cOnSciences and whose beside
our own are we bound to satisfy?
Now, rs to the other charge rs to the
election OF Independents in counties where
the Democratic nominees were known IL
be opposed to Camden. How far are We
to investigate this question? Did not one
Independent Republican vote for Senator
Camden? Was not that vote a matter of
public conversation? Are we bound 10 60
further than to satisfy our W consciences
upon these questions? 1fthese matters aretC
be investigated, We are prepared TO 20 into
that Investigation; but nj such tribunal is
erected or proposed. We have done all
that we are called upon to do rs patriots,
rs legislators, rs citizens, rs Democrats.
Again upon this question the gentle
men made so light of, the Standard Oil
Company. ] refer the Assembly to the
work of Mr.. Hudson, a scientist and
political economist. He takes the ground
that that concern is now represented by
one Cabinet officer and two United States
Senators, and in the end will prove de
structive of American institutions. II the
question of the election of a Senator was
not an issue in the district of the gentle
man from Raleigh in the recent campaign,
it was an issue in mine.
Il came here with the injunction from
them not to support, and | am anSwerable
to them. 1t is charged that Mr.. Camden
had made prOtiers to the Republicans Of
this floor that if they would come to his
support he would not strike another blow
against them. If you deny this and want
a trial, select your tribunal and will
prove it.
Again the charge was made that Mr..
Camden sent directly money to candidates
Ii the gentleman wants proof let him erect
his tribunal and l will give it to him, sup